Which Asura Summon has priority?

[:1]Let's say all 8 players are going to bring one Asura summon skill. There are 4 possible summon choices. The choices are:

http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Asura_summon

Summoning skill Attributes used Skills used

Summon Naga Shaman Earth Magic, Earth damage Stoning

Summon Ruby Djinn Fire Magic, Fire damage Immolate

Summon Ice Imp Water Magic, Cold damage Ice Spikes

Summon Mursaat Air Magic, Lightning damage (suspected) Enervating Charge

Now everyone player have different Asura rank, so the summons will have different levels. Which combo would you pick?

I personally feel Ice Imp is the weakest link. Their Ice Spike can only be used once every 10 seconds, and relies on hitting multiple targets to be effective. Putting this task on the AI won't work out at all. Furthermore weakness would work just as well as shutting down melee mobs.

The next weakest would be Ruby Djinn. They can burn, but only for 2 seconds unless you have max Asura rank. Naga's stoning costs more but it deals more damage and doesn't rely on degen.

Mursaats is actually pretty good. Its damage is lower than Djinn but it gives weakness, which really helps our your team's defense. Best defensive summon in my opinion.

Naga works wonders with weakness. Their skill Stone actually hurts a lot too. They are the overall best summon in my opinion. Best offensive summon in my opinion.

So here is my choice, from more important to least important:

1) 6 X Naga Shaman (for KD) (High Asura rank player would bring this to max damage)

2) 2 X Mursaat (for weakness) (even low level Mursaat can cause fairly long weakness on foes. So lower Asura rank player would bring this).

(zero Dijnn, unless foes happens to fear fire damage)

(zero Ice Imp, unless foes happens to fear cold damage)

So this sort of mirror team with 2 monks (defensive) and 6 offensive players.|||I don't know I wished I could get mine though as I keep losing to these solo quests.|||The Summon's attribute scales between 12 and 15, Immolate will ALWAYS burn for 3 seconds. So:

Ruby Djinn = highest damage (75 + 42 armor-ignoring)

Naga = second highest damage, highest EN cost of spell, KD potential

Mursaat = lowest damage, Weakness

Ice Imp = Only AoE, slowest recharge, snare

Depends on team build really.

SF ele -> Ruby Djinn can work as enabler

team with a lot of degen -> Ruby Djinn becomes less useful

Team with Enfeeble Blood Necro -> Naga KD's a lot

Mursaat -> crap most of the time, if you want the weakness, take You Are All Weaklings or Enfeebling Blood

Ice Imp -> use it for the snare|||The other obvious answer is, none. There are many far better skills.

You lose a skillslot to gain 1 skill you have no control over.|||I have to agree with Kedde here.|||Quote:








The other obvious answer is, none. There are many far better skills.

You lose a skillslot to gain 1 skill you have no control over.




Asura summons is more than just a skill. It is an extra body to tank for your team. Also makes retreats much easier when you need it.|||Yeah, but if you absolutely need to bring a summon, go at least for the EVAS. He can at least contribute something instead of mostly just floating around behind you - that's my impression from the ruby djinn at least.|||I regularly bring both EVAS and Summons. Not that Asura summons are great, but they are fun to bring.

I'd worry more about synergy with the team than actual damage stats... You're not really concerned with min-maxing damage if you bring an asura summon.|||Quote:








Yeah, but if you absolutely need to bring a summon, go at least for the EVAS. He can at least contribute something instead of mostly just floating around behind you - that's my impression from the ruby djinn at least.




That's my feeling as well. Also, weren't we just talking about reduced effectiveness of Eles in HM? Generally I find there are better abusable PVE skills to bring.

-T|||Quote:








Yeah, but if you absolutely need to bring a summon, go at least for the EVAS. He can at least contribute something instead of mostly just floating around behind you - that's my impression from the ruby djinn at least.




Hmm...from my experience EVAS dies in seconds. They rarely survive for those 15 seconds. With Asura Summon they survive a lot better. So while they are great for damage, their usage is more similar to a single nuking skill, rather than a summon.

That said, I remember once when like 6 guys all brought EVAS. When we focus fire with EVAS it is instant kill for any mob. Specially when I enfeeble the target for KD.

I still prefer Asura Summons because they had allowed my group to escape from impossible situations many times. Without them those escapes would have been party wipes. I am not saying Asura Summons are some awesome skill. But they are definitely worth bringing.